Cover retainer for cans



(Nov.

J. A. HoPwooD COVER RETAINER FOR cANs Filed Feb. 4, 1941 s sheetssheet 1 BY v a l a: I r

A TTORNEY NV 10, 1942-l J. A. HoPwooD COVER RETAINER FOR CANS 3 Sheets-Sheei 2 Filed Feb. 4, 1941'` JOHN f7. H

OP W 0D A TTORNEY NOV 10, 1942- .1 -A. HoPwooD COVER RETAINER FOR CANS Filed Feb. 4, 1941 s sheen-sheet s 1N VENTQR JOHN Fl'. H

A TTORNE Y Patented Nov. l0, 1942 sanne Unirse stares rarest orales COVER RETAINER FR CAN S .lohn A. Hopwood, Great Neck, N. Y.

Application February 4, 1941, Serial No. 377,287 l0 Claims. (Cl. 22o- 55) This invention provides a means for retaining a cover in place upon a can and while adapted for general uses is primarily intended for use on cans, such as are used for the delivery of milk and cream. All vparts of such cans must be so constructed and arranged that they will be capable of thorough sterilization at the Creamery and they must be also susceptible of being tightly sealed in such a way as to preclude contamination of the milk during shipment. The present invention provides such an arrangement and at the same time may be so constructed as to provide for dispensing of milk or cream from the can in desired quantities.

Cans of the type employed for the purposes stated comprise a body, the upper end of which is formed into a spo-called breast on which is superimposed a neck outwardly flared to produce a lip or bowl. IThe can cover is commonly provided with a tubular skirt or rim adapted to fit into the neck to close the can. It is the practice generally to secure the cover in place by wired seals which extend through perforations in the cover and through handles on the body of the can.

In accordance with the present invention, the can is conventional while the skirt of the cover is preferably provided with a rubber gasket adapted to seat in the flared lip portion of the neck. The

can cover is, however, provided, interiorly of the can, with a series of pivoted retaining fingers which are operable from the exterior of the cover to grip the interior of the can at its breast andV draw the cover down tightly upon the gasket to forni a tight seal and secure the cover against inadvertent displacement. These retaining 1ing-ers, however may be manipulated from the eX'- terior of the can to release the cover and permit of its removal.

The cover may also be provided with an apreptitiously removed without indicating such fact.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will fbe apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims when in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one 55Y practical embodiment of the invention,vbut the construction therein shown is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention. f Y l n Figure 1 is a plan view of a can cover embodying the present invention with a closure cap, forming part of the invention, removed.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Figure l with the closure cap in place. L

Figure 3 is an underneath plan view of the cover removed from the can with one of the retaining lingers removed, but indicated in dotted lines. f

Figure 4 is a sectlonlon the line d-f'i of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sections of modiiied forms of construction. Y

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1 7 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, l indicates the body n of the can having a breast 2 and a tubular cylin-` drical neck 3, the upper end of which is nared to provide the lip l. The cover comprises a cover plate 5 having a depending tubular cylindrical skirt or rim 6, adapted to lit into the neckv 3. The lower end of the ski-rt may be slightly contracted as shown.

About the cover plate is an upstanding tubula cylindrical wall 'l which extends for an appreciable distance above the plate and is open at its top. Juxtaposed with the cover plate but exterior of the wall 'l is an annular "umbrella 8. All of these parts are firmly secured together by riveting, welding, soldering or the like, so that they constitute, in eect, an integral structure.

Mounted centrally of the cover plate 5 is a tubular hub 9. A portion of this hub projects above the cover plate and is threaded at l il, while the greater portion of the hub projects below the cover plate and is provided at its lower end with a series of pairs of brackets l l. Across each pair of brackets is a pivot pin l2 and on each pivot pin i2 is a retaining inger I3. These retaining fingers are each provided with a bayonet slot IKL so that they can be individually assembled on or removed from the pins I2 and each of said lingers is, in effect, a bent lever of the irst class, having a power arm l5 and a work arm It.

The several levers or retaining fingers extend in radial directions with their several power arms grouped together in closely spaced relation about the axis of the hub Vwithin a chamber il in the lower end of the latter. To permit close spacing these ends of the levers are tapered as shown at ill. Figures 2 and 3 show very clearly the relation of these levers in the chamber il.

Positioned within the chamber Il above the levers is a pressure disk I3 and bearing on this pressure disk is a stud 20. This stud extends upwardly through the tubular hub to a point above the top of the threaded portion w and is there rmly attached to a hollow operating member or head 2|, the interior of which is threaded to screw on to the threaded portion lil. The retaining ngers I3 are so shaped and proportioned that when the head 2| is unscrewed with respect to the threaded portion' I8, th'e' retaining. lingers will gravitate intothe' dotted line positions shown in Figure 2 to permit the cover to be placed on or removed from the can.

However, when the cover is placed. on. the. can and the head 2| screwed down, it exerts' pressure upon the pressure disk |9"which swings the retaining fingers upwardly into the, full line position in which they engagey withthev breast' of the can and by continued pressure: exerted;

by the head 2|, the cover may be forced firmly into position into the neck.'

Asfshown best'in-Figure- 2, thedepending skirt 6 of' the' cover is` provided'with an annular stop 22 and below which stop is positioned an elastic gasket' 253l which', when the cover is forced into the-neck, seat's within the ii'a'red lip portion d to' produce' a; liduid tightv joint therewith.

To facilitate operation of the head 2|, it is preferably provided with radial wings orl arms 24E The cover' retainingposition off the head 2|: andarms is indicated in'fully lines in Figure 2 while the dotted line positions ofthese parts indicate those which will permit of the reniovalor replacement" of'l the cover.

Iff: desired one ofI the wings` or arms'4 24 may be perforated and a perforatedI bracket' similar to the" bracket 25'; may be'mounted on the wall 'lor' on# the cover'pla't'e' 5 andv an ordinary wired sea-l may'A be' passed through the perforations of` both' parts, so that' after thecan has been ll'ed" andthe' cover secured in place by screwing downthe'- head 2'|,.thewired seal will guard thecarr against' surreptitious' tampering. However, irthepreferred'form' of the invention other and additional adjuncts hereinafter described are preferably associatedwith' theI structure which serve the same and additional purposes.

It' isto be understood? that the invention may be usedv as thus far described so as to utilize merely the retaining' means of" the can cover for there is' a pronounced commercial need' for a satisfactory cover retainer in' connection with the delivery of" milk. The structure which 1 have described is such a retainer: All of the parts may be readily dismantledv for cleaning and sterilization. By unscrewing the head 2|', the head and 'its stud- 20' may' be removed and then thel retainers |3`- can bev individually unhooked from their pivots |'2 to` release the pressure disk |9, andi' when all. these'- parts are separated, theyY may' be thoroughly cleaned and, if desired', theyl can' be' re-assem'bl'ed and sterilized afterv assembly; as-wil'l hereinafter be'l more fully explained.

In the preferred forni of the present invention, I so constitute the can' cover that it will provide for the dispensing of its contents without removal of the c'over and in theY invention as shown in the drawings; there is thus provided means whereby air' may be introduced into the can through the cover to force the liquid cut' of the can through a dispensing tube which is also introduced into the can through the cover.

In this showing: the cover plate 5 is provided with two apertured bosses 26' and 21, as shown best in Figure 4. Through the boss 26 extends an air inlet tube 23a, flanged at its top to seat on the boss and in the upper end of this tube is tted a rubber nipple valve 28 provided at its top with a flange 23 which constitutes a gasket. The nipple valve 28 is provided with a closed end having therein one or more slits 30 which are adapted to be opened by pressure admitted into the chamber of such valve. The upper face oi-' the bossi 25 has two"` radial notches 3| therein so that' if the pressure in the can becomes too great the nipple valve may be collapsed suiiiciently to permit the pressure to bypass the nipple and vent to the atmosphere through the Into' the aperture of the boss 2l is iitted a rubber, sleeve 32 open at both ends but provided at its upper end with an external flange 33 which seats on the top of the boss and constitutes a gasket. Telescoping liquid delivery tubes 32a and 32h coactwith this sleeve'4 as indicated in dotted lines infFigure 2.

Positioned midway between the bosses Z3 and'y 2l' and rigidly mounted on the cover plate 5 is an upstanding post 34 having therein a circular apertureSla. AV pressure-plate 35 is apertured1 to fit down over this-post and' extend laterally in cppositedirections to overlie the gaskets 29 and' 331 This pressure plate iscut away over the openings intheu gaskets and is adapted to be forced down to a iirm seat upon the gaskets to hold them and their associated rubber parts in place by means of a locking bar 35.` One end of the locking bar is twisted as shown at 3l' and has a tongue' 38 adapted to be passed through the circular hole 34a, in the post 34. This' bar is` madey from hat stock, soY that, when the flat tongue is-placed in a horizontal position as shown in dotted linesin Figure 2, it may be passed loosely through the opening Silav in the post and then shifted into the full line position of this gure by rotation of the bar through 9i) degrees. This tongue will then exert a camming action with respect to the opening 34a and the pressure plate 33, so that the latter is forced down tightly upon the gaskets 29 and 33 and will thus serve t'o hold them tightly in position.

The locking bar is bent so as to reach across the top of the cover plate to the opposite side thereof' at which point it is oifset downwardly, as shown at 39, inv order to bear upon a removableand disruptable closure it@ seated in a filler boss M which surrounds the filler opening of the cover plate, as shown best in Figure 2.

Beyond the oiiset portion 39 the locking bar has a laterally ext-ending angular portion 42 adapted to cooperate with the locking bracket 25 and both of these parts are perforated to receivel a wired seal 43 as shown best in Figure 1. Consequently, when the locking bar is in place, it serves to anchor both thegaskets and their associated rubber parts in place, as well as the removable closure lill of" the ller opening. It also has the further function of serving to preclude release of the cover from the can as the arms or wings 24` of the head' 2| project suliciently to engage with the locking bar and consequently the head 2| cannot be iuiscrewed to release the cover so long as the locking bar is in its locking position and this locking bar cannot be removed from this position without breaking the wired seal 43.

After a can is cleaned, sterilized and lled and thereafter sealed by the locking` bar and the wired seal 43, the retail dealer who receives the can in this condition will know that it has not tional i'lt or may be threaded or otherwise 'ar-' ranged to be positively secured in position.

In utilizing the foregoing invention in the retail dispensing of milk, cream or the like, the can is received at the Creamery in the condition shown in full lines in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. The following operations are then carried out: The supplementary cover is rst removed, the wired seal i3 is disrupted and the locking bar is moved into the dotted line position of Figure 2..

This relieves pressure on the pressure plate 35, so that the tongue 38 may be withdrawn. rIhe pressure plate 35 may now be removed.

' The head 2| is now unscrewed so that the stud 2G is elevated soY that the retaining fingers I3 may drop into the dotted line position of Figure 2 to release the cover. The cover is then removed, the ingers It! separated therefrom and the disk I 9 is taken from the chamber I'I. The two rubber members 28 and 32 and tubes 23a, 32a, and 32h are removed from the bosses 21 and 26. The gasket 23 is slipped oi of the depending skirt 6 and all the parts are at that time fully dismantled, so that they may be individually thoroughly cleaned including the can and the cover. After thorough cleansing, the disk I 9, ngers I3, head ZI and its stud 2t are replaced. New rubber members 3 and 32 are associated with the tubes and these are positioned in the bosses 26 and 21, respectively, the pressure plate 35 is returned into position, and the end 38 of the locking bar is passed through the opening 3io in the post 313. The gasket 23 is replaced on the cover and the cover is placed on the can. The head 2l is then screwed down tightly and the cover is locked in place.

With the parts in this condition and with the can empty, the assembly is passed to a sterilizer and the entire assembly is sterilized both exteriorly and interiorly for the closure 4t has not yet been applied. After thorough sterilization milk is introduced into the can through the lling opening in the boss lll and thereupon the closure 4I! is applied. The locking bar is then moved into the full line positions of Figures 1 and 2 and locked in place by a wired seal 53. The supplementary cover it@ is next applied and the filled can in thoroughly sterilized condition is ready for shipment.

The lodging of water due to condensed steam or otherwise in the space above the cover plate and within the upstanding wall l is precluded by drain holes 45 shown in Figure 2.

When the filled can is received by the retailer, he removes the supplementary cover fli4l, couples the dispensing tube and air inlet nipple valve 23 to appropriate dispensing mechanism and proceeds to dispense the contents as and when desired, the can remaining closed with the wired seal I3 intact. In this way the milk or cream will not be polluted, but is maintained in a safe and sterile condition.

In Figure 5 I have shown a modied form of construction. Here the hub 9 is supported on the base of a centrally located depression d5 in the -can cover. The upstanding threaded portionI extends into the chamber of the depression and is adapted to receive the threaded operating number or head d which is housed therein. A The stem or stud 'il is made separate from the head but is attached to or integral with the pressure disk 43 which bears against the power arms of the retaining fingers I 3 and an elastic packing It@ is housed within the head to insure a tight seal.

The head 46 has a polygonal socket 5t adapted for the reception of wrench 5I but the walls of the socket are perforated at 52 so that a wired seal 53 may be aixed therethrough and through a perforated ear 5d on the interior of the recess to serve as a sealed locking member and preclude surreptitious introduction of the wrench or rotation of the head. This seal must be removed before the cover can be released and removed. A removable protective cap or closure '55 normally closes the recess. l

In Figure 6 the cover also has a central recess 55 normally closed by a removable closure 55. A fulcrum member 5l is attached to or integral with the wall of this recess and has openings 58 into which may be hooked the upper ends of retaining fingers. The operating member or head is in the form of a castellated nut 60 screwed upon a stem or stud 6I which extends downwardly through the cover and carries a spreader plate 52 at its lower end. This plate is notched at 63 to receive the several fingers 59 and uniformly space them circumferentially cf the plate.

When the head @il is screwed upon the stem, it elevates the plate 62 and spreads the ngers 59 into engagement with the can. When the head is unscrewed, it lowers said plate and the :fingers descend to release the cover for removal. The parts may be secured in locked position by passing a sealed locking member 64 through a perforation in the stem 5I through the cas tellations of the head till.

The constructions of Figures 5 and 6 have the advantage that the means for securing the cover on the can do not increase the can beyond standard height and the cover, moreover, has a flush top, which is of advantage in stacking.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in its preferred practical form. It will be understood, how-ever, that inasmuch as certain parts of this invention may be employedcommercially Without necessarily employing all, the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an assembly of the character described, a delivery can provided with a neck, a cover tting the neck to close the same and provided with a filler opening, pivoted retaining fingers on the under side of the cover, an operating handle on the exterior of the cover, connections between said handle and the retaining fingers for moving the iingers into and out of engagement `with the Wall of the can when said handle is rotated. a closure seated in said ller opening, and a locking bar bearing against the closure of the ller opening and positioned in the path of said handle to hold said closure in position and preclude rotation of said handle to release the fingers from engagement with the wall of the can. f

2. In an assembly of the character described,

a deliverycanprovided with a neck, a cover ttingneck-v to close the: same and provided' with a r opening, pivoted retaining lingerson the under side ci the cover, an operating mel Lber on the exterior of the cover, connections between said member and the retaining for moving the fingers intoand out of engagement with the wall of the can when said member is rotated, a closure seated in said ller opening, a locking bar bearing against. the closure of the filler opening and positioned in the path of said member tohold said closure in position and preclude rotation of said member to release the fingers from engagement with thewall of the can, and a wired seal connectingy saidI locking bar with the can cover to preclude surreptitious release or the locking bar.

3. In an assembly oithe character described, a delivery can provided with a neck, a cover ntting the neck to close the same and provided with a filler opening, pivoted retaining fingers ony the under side of the cover', an operating member on the exterior ci the cover, connections between said member and the retaining fingers for Inoving the ingers into and out of engagement withl the wall othe can wheny said member is rotated, a closure seated in said iler opening', a locking bar bearing against the closure of the ller opening and positioned in the path of said member to hold saidv closure in position and preclude rotation of said member to release the nngers fromv engagement with the wall of the can, a wired seal connecting said locking bar with the can cover to preclude surreptitious release ci' the locking bar, and a supplementary cover normally covering and concealing said member and locking bar,

4. In an assembly of the character described, a delivery can provided with a neck, a cover ritting they neck to close the same, said cover havthere'n a l-ler opening, an air inlet openingand a lijaid discharge opening, gaskets associated with each of the two laitter openings, and a detachable closure associated with the ller opening, a pressure pla-te extending over said gaskets, pivoted retaining nngers on the under side` of the c@ an operating member on theexterior of the c ver, operative connect-irons between said amber the retaining ngers for moving said re aining fingers into and out oi engagement wi n the wall of the can when said memb rotated, and a locking bar for locking the press plate against the gaskets and the closure w in the filler opening, said locking bar er. Ag into the path of rotation of said member to preclude suihcient rotation thereof to release the retaining fingers from contact with the can wall- 5. In an assembly of the character described, a delivery canprovided with a neck, a cover -tting the neck to close the same, said cover having ther a,l filleropening, an air inlet opening and a liquid discharge opening, gaskets associated with each of the two latter openings'and a detachable closure associated with the filler opening, a pressure plate extending over said gaskets, pivoted retaining fingers on the under side of the cover, an operating member on the exterior ci the cover, operative connections between said member and the retaining ngers for moving said retaining fingers into and out of engagement with the Wall of the can when said member is rotated, a locking bar for locking the pressure plate against the gaskets and the closure within the ller opening, said locking bar extending into-the path of; rotation; ci sadmernber to preclude sufficient rotation thereof to release the retaining fingers from conta-ct with the ca-nwall, and a disruptable seal connecting the locking; member and the can cover to preclude surreptitious release ofi the; locking member.

6. In an assembly of the. character described, a delivery can provided with a neck, a cover-r fitting the neck to sealt the same, said cover having: therein a filler opening, an air inlet opening and a liquid discharge opening, gaskets-v associated:l with each ofthe two latter openings, and a detachable closure associated with the filler opening, a pressure plate extending over said gaskets, and a locking bar for locking the pressure plate. against the gaskets and the closure Within the ller opening.

7. In an assembly of' the character described, a delivery can provided with a neck, a cover fitting the neck to seal the same, said cover having therein a filler opening, an air inlet opening and a liquid discharge opening, gaskets associated with each of the two latter openings, a detachable closure associated' with the ller opening, a pressure plate extending over said gaskets, and a locking; bar for locking the pressure plateagainst the gaskets and the closure within the filler opening, and a disruptable seal connecting the lockingI member and the can cover to preclude surrepti'tious releaseI of the locking member,

8. In an assembly of the chanac-ter described, a delivery can for milk and cream comprisingy a can body having a breastl and' a superimposed neck, a. cover having a` depending skirt project- .l ing into said neck, a fulcrum member centrally' positioned on the underside of' the cover and having circu'merentially spaced apart fulcrum openings, a plurality of retaining fingers, the lower ends of' which extend downwardly into juxtaposition with the breast of' the can and the upper ends of which are hook shaped andare detachably' hooked through the, corresponding Iul'crum openings of the fulcrum member fromA the interior of the latter, a spreader positioned below and coaxially of the fulcrum member and centrally of the several retaining fingers, and means operable from the exterior of the cover to draw the spreader in t-he direct-ion of the fulcrum. member and thereby spread the lower ends of. the retaining lingers into engagement with the breast of the can.

9. In an assembly of' the character described, a delivery can for milk and cream comprising a can body having a breast and a superimposed neck, a cover having a depending skirt projecting into said neck, a. fulcrum member centrally positioned on the under of the cover and having circumferentiallyspaced apart fuleru-m openings, a pluraii-ty of retaining fingers, the lower ends of which extend downward-lyinto juxtaposition with the breast of the can andthe upper ends of Which are hook shaped and' are detachably hooked through the corresponding fulcrum openings of the fulerum member from the interior of the latter, a spreaderpositioned below and coaxially of the fulorum member and centrally of the several retaining fingers and' circumferentialiy notched to individually receive said fingers and peripherafly space them apart, and means operable from the exterior of the cover to draw the spreader in the direction of the lulcrum member and thereby spread the lower ends of the retaining ngers into engagement with the breast of the can.

10. In an assembly of the character described.

a delivery can for milk and cream comprising a can body having a breast and a superimposed neck, a cover having a depending skirt projecting into s'aid neck, a fulcrum member centrally positioned on the under side of the cover and having circumferentially spaced apart fulcrum openings, a plurali-ty of retaining ngers, the lower ends of which extend downwardly into juxtaposition with the breast of the can and the upper ends of which are hook shaped and are 10 detachably hooked through the corresponding fulcrum openings of `the fullcrum member from the interior of the latter, a spreader positioned J OHN A. HOPWOOD. 

